Box Score | Season Preview Video | Game Highlights

Bennington, Vt. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team raced out to an early 8-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back on Wednesday, eventually downing Southern Vermont College, 100-46, in non-conference action. The game was the season opener for both teams. 

The Engineers had five players in double figures, led by juniors Elizabeth Eckhardt (17 points) and LaKissa Martin (16). Freshman Courtney Lewis added 14 points, while classmate Lyndsey Stone and sophomore Ines Ortea both scored 13 points. Lewis also had seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in her 22-minute college debut.

RPI jumped out to an 8-point lead before a 3-pointer by Southern Vermont sophomore Sarah Poirer got the Mountaineers on the board and cut the deficit to five. The Engineers responded by going on a 17-5 run to close the quarter, capped off by a long three from Stone with 12 seconds left. 

The Engineers extended their lead in the second quarter to 32-7 by scoring the quarter's first five points.  The Mountaineers cut into the deficit with a 13-point run, highlighted by the outside shooting of sophomore Danielle Biggers and Poirer. The Engineers answered with six points from Martin to close the first half on a 15-2 run and finish the frame with a 47-22 lead. 

RPI continued to pressure the Mountaineers and extended their lead in the third quarter to 72-37. RPI then held the Mountaineers to nine points in the final period in route to their 100-46 win.   

The Mountaineers were paced by Main who scored 19 points in her collegiate debut. 

Rensselaer is back on the court on Friday when it hosts the Engineers Classic at East Campus Arena. RPI plays Albany College of Pharmacy and Sciences at 4pm. The Mountaineers are in action on Saturday when they travel to non conference in-state rival Green Mountain College (3pm).